Drought

"Drought is as full of compassion for its characters—and humanity, in general—as it is unexpected in its storytelling. Hess has written a novella that manages to be simultaneously tender, macabre, and transcendent." —Brian Alessandro, author of Performer Non Grata and Julian's Debut

When Parnell, a recluse from Newark, New Jersey, inherits a dilapidated tobacco farm in Kentucky from his estranged Uncle Willy, he moves to the farm hoping to jump start his empty life. Such begins an odyssey igniting a dual narrative as Uncle Willy shares from the grave about his deep love for a man named Phil, and a violent curse born from hate and intolerance. In Kentucky, Parnell befriends Darl, who works at the Sonic, and John, an eccentric preacher who guides himto learn the twisted fate of his Uncle Willy. Parnell discovers there are more than tobacco leaves buried in the fields. As he unearths a long-hidden crime, to his surprise, he gains a new sense of self.

"I must give Scott Alexander Hess that great bookish compliment: I stayed up late to read this."—T.Q. Sims, author of Godspeed, Lovers

Scott Alexander Hess is the author of seven novels, including Skyscraper, a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and The Butcher's Sons, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015. His latest fiction—a pair of novellas, The Root of Everything & Lightning— was named a best book of 2021 by St. Louis Librarians. His writing has appeared in HuffPost, Genre Magazine, The Fix, Thema Literary Review, and elsewhere. Hess co-wrote "Tom in America," an award-winning short film starring Sally Kirkland and Burt Young.